Peruvian breakfast in Lima: what to order, from pan con chicharrón to tamal

A traditional Lima breakfast is not continental. It is fried pork in a crusty bread roll, a tamal wrapped in a banana leaf, sweet potato, a tangy onion relish called salsa criolla, and coffee. Here is what each one is and what it costs at Wasi Café, a specialty coffee shop in San Isidro, Lima.

Pan con chicharrón

The king of the Lima breakfast: slices of slow-cooked, then fried pork (chicharrón) in a bread roll, with fried sweet potato and salsa criolla.

At Wasi it costs S/ 24.90, or S/ 27.90 in the «Amanecer Criollo» combo with an Americano.

Tamal

A Peruvian tamal is corn dough with a filling, steamed in a banana leaf. In Lima it is eaten for breakfast with salsa criolla, often inside a pan francés, the local bread roll.

Our Tamal Criollo (S/ 16.90) comes with salsa criolla in pan francés. The Desayuno Tamalero (S/ 21.90) adds a coffee.

Butifarra

The butifarra (S/ 20.90) is a sandwich of jamón del país, a Peruvian-style cooked ham, with salsa criolla. Lighter than the chicharrón and just as local. If you want beef, try the sándwich de asado (S/ 24.90), with roast beef in artisan bread.

The full table for two

If you want the whole experience, the Tradición Wasi (S/ 78.90) is made for sharing. It includes:

• 2 coffees and 2 fresh juices (papaya or pineapple).
• 250 g of chicharrón and a chicken tamal.
• 100 g of salchicha huachana, a spiced sausage from the north of Lima, and 4 bread rolls.
• Fried sweet potato and salsa criolla.

It is what a Saturday breakfast looks like in many Lima homes.

What to drink

• Coffee: an Americano (S/ 9.00) or a café con leche (S/ 11.00). Ours is Peruvian specialty coffee from Cusco, Cajamarca, Junín, Amazonas and San Martín.
• Fresh juice: papaya (S/ 12.90) is our most ordered juice, followed by the mixed juice and pineapple.
• Chicha morada (S/ 13.90): the purple corn drink pairs well with chicharrón.

Not a pork person?

No problem. These are breakfast options without chicharrón, all with coffee included:

• Pollo Wasi (S/ 25.90): coffee, juice and a chicken sandwich.
• Light (S/ 24.90): coffee, eggs (boiled, scrambled or fried), avocado and toast.
• Dúo Café (S/ 19.90): coffee and a classic ham and cheese sandwich, the quickest option.

Omelettes start at S/ 18.50, and the full omelette with ham, cheese, bacon, tomato and pepper costs S/ 24.90.

When to go

In Lima, pan con chicharrón is often a Sunday tradition, but Wasi Café is closed on Sundays. Come Monday to Friday from 8 a.m., or on Saturday from 9 a.m. for a long, unhurried breakfast.

If you prefer something more familiar, there are omelettes, eggs and toast too: see our visitor's guide to Wasi Café.

Where we are

Wasi Café is at Luis Felipe Villarán 904, San Isidro, Lima, a short walk from Javier Prado Avenue, close to El Olivar park and the financial district. We are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; closed on Sundays. Everything can be ordered to go. Open it in Google Maps, or message us on WhatsApp at +51 908 724 496.